Guldemond & Buaas win the US Open Slopestyle

Mon 23 March 09

US rider Chas Guldemond and Kjersti Oestgaard-Buaas of Norway win the slopestyle, with Brit Jenny Jones coming 2nd in the
Swatch TTR 6Star Burton US Open in Stratton. Peetu Piiroinen who came 4th became the overall TTR tour winner.

The last day of the US Open proved to be the busiest with junior jam finals, men’s and women’s slopestyle finals and three major titles being awarded. Chas Guldemond (USA) and Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) won slopestyle finals and $20,000 each. Chas Guldemond and Jamie Anderson (USA) are the new Burton Global Open Series Champions, each taking home $100,000, currently the largest single payout in the sport. Scotty Lago (USA) and Kjersti Buaas will be driving new Volvo XC60s after winning the Volvo Most Valuable Rider Awards. And last but not least, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) was crowned the new Men’s Swatch TTR World Tour Champion, claiming $50,000 for his amazing efforts throughout the 2008/2009 TTR season.

Chas rode home with $145,000 today, he had this to say of his win, “I really wanted to do good on the Global Open Series, but I never planned on this. I really appreciate the people above that took care of me, and everyone along the way. This is such a great day.”

2009 US Open winner Chas GuldemondPhoto: Aaron Blatt

At the beginning of slopestyle finals, the variable weather conditions constantly switched between sun, clouds, snow and wind. The women got caught in a snow squall during their first runs, but after about 20 minutes, the clouds magically parted and the sun came out.

After a sticky snowfall, riders struggled to make it through the course. Jenny Jones put together a solid run, holding on to first place for a while. But it was Kjersti Buaas who took the top spot on the US Open podium for the second time this weekend with a run that included a nosepress on the box, 50/50 to frontside 180, Cab 540 indy, backside 360 indy, frontside 360 stalefish ending with a frontside 720 mute.

Kjersti had a very successful weekend at the US Open, earning $13,000 for a win and Amp Best Trick in the quarterpipe competition, $2,000 in the halfpipe competition, $20,000 for winning slopestyle and scoring keys to her second Volvo XC60 of the year after winning the Volvo Most Valuable Rider award at both the Burton European Open and the US Open. Chanelle Sladics earned third place and the Emergen-C Best Trick award for her front boardslide 270 out on the down rail.

“Being the best overall rider meant a lot to me because I strive to be good in the pipe and slope,” said Kjersti. “I was trying all season to be good in both disciplines, it makes me so excited. Now people can’t just define me as a pipe rider, and that means the most to me.”

In the men’s finals, the slow course didn’t bother Chas Guldemond, who dropped in knowing that he had the $100,000 BGOS title in the bag. While the other riders struggled to gain enough speed to make it through the entire course, Chas won the competition with his first run. His winning run included a frontside boardslide 270 out to a 50-50 backside 180 followed by a switch backside 900, backside 1260, Cab 900 ending with a backside rodeo on the jumps.

Sebastien Toutant (CAN) put together a solid run earning second place. And Scotty Lago, who won the US Open quarterpipe competition, earned third place and clinched the keys to a new Volvo XC60. Peetu Piiroinen earned the Emergen-C Best Trick award for his backside rodeo 720. Chas had the biggest payday of any US Open competitor this weekend, earning $100,000 for the BGOS title, $20,000 for the slopestyle title and $25,000 for earning the Swatch TTR World No. 2 position.

Scotty Lago was at a loss for words when he learned of winning his Volvo, “Words can’t describe how I’m feeling. I am so pumped being the best overall rider at a contest with so much history. Today is my best day I’ve ever had in snowboarding for sure.”

Guldemond who performed consistently well throughout the season finished his TTR season as World No. 2 right behind the 08/09 Swatch TTR Tour Champion Peetu Piiroinen, who finished in 4th in the Slopestyle. Finnish rider Antti Autti who placed 5th, moved up one spot to TTR World No. 3 followed by Kevin Pearce (USA) in No. 4 and Risto Mattila (FIN) in No. 5.

2009 TTR Champ Peetu PiiroinenPhoto: Jake Stangel

Earlier in the day, snowboarding’s up-and-coming groms competed in the annual US Open junior jam halfpipe competition. Thirteen-year-old Arielle Gold took the title for the girls with her technical spin combinations and her impressive amplitude. Tanner Barrett emerged from a field of 83 boys to take the title with his massive frontside 900 tail grab to McTwist mute followed by back-to-back 540s and a tail to slob air.

Last stop on the Burton AM Tour was up on the Val Senales Glacier in Italy, despite the weathers best efforts, the event till took place. Some excellent results for the Brits with 11yr old Katie Ormerod winning the overall Youth girls series